1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: A dead Finger by Sabine bearing gold. Why the National 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,279 Gallery should not attract so many visitors as say the 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,400 British Museum, I cannot explain. The latter does not contain 4 00:00:13,519 --> 00:00:16,160 much that one would suppose appeals to the interest of 5 00:00:16,199 --> 00:00:21,120 the ordinary sightseer. What knows such of prehistoric flints and 6 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:26,800 scratched bones of a Syrian sculpture, of Egyptian hieroglyphics. The 7 00:00:26,839 --> 00:00:30,839 Greek and Roman statuary is cold and dead. The paintings 8 00:00:30,839 --> 00:00:34,079 in the National Gallery glow with color and are instinct 9 00:00:34,079 --> 00:00:38,520 with life. Yet somehow a few listless wanderers saunter yawning 10 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,799 through the National Gallery, whereas swarms port through the halls 11 00:00:41,799 --> 00:00:44,920 of the British Museum and talk in past remarks about 12 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,799 the objects they are exposed, of the date and meaning 13 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:51,560 of which they have not the faintest conception. I was 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,280 thinking of this problem and endeavoring to unravel it one morning, 15 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,920 whilst sitting in the room for English Masters at the 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,759 Great Collection in Trofulgar's Square. At the same time, another 17 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,319 thought forced itself upon me. I had been through the 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,480 rooms devoted to foreign schools, and had then come into 19 00:01:09,519 --> 00:01:14,519 that given over Reynolds Moreland Gainsborough, Constable and Hogarth. The 20 00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:18,439 morning had been for a while propitious, but towards noon 21 00:01:18,599 --> 00:01:22,079 a dense, umber tinted fog had come on, making it 22 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,000 all but impossible to see the pictures, and quite impossible 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,840 to do them justice. I was tired, and so seated 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,560 up myself on one of the chairs, and fell into 25 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,239 the consideration, first of all, of why the National Gallery 26 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,959 is not as popular as it should be, and secondly 27 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:41,239 how it was that the British school had no beginnings 28 00:01:41,879 --> 00:01:45,079 like those of Italy and the Netherlands. We can see 29 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:47,879 the art of the painter from its first initiation in 30 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,480 the Italian peninsula and among the Flemings. It starts on 31 00:01:52,519 --> 00:01:55,879 its progress like a child, and we can trace every 32 00:01:55,959 --> 00:01:59,560 stage of its growth. Not so with English art. It 33 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,560 springs to life in full and splendid maturity. Who were 34 00:02:03,599 --> 00:02:07,120 there before Reynolds and Gainsboro and Hogarth. The names of 35 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,120 those portrait and subject painters who have left their canvasses 36 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,400 upon the walls of our country houses were those of foreigners. Holbein, 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,719 Nuller van Dyke and Lily for portraits, and Moneyer for 38 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:24,439 flower and fruit pieces. Landscapes figure subjects were all importations 39 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:29,039 none homegrown? How came that about? Was there no limmur 40 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,800 that was native? Was it that fashion trampled on homegrown 41 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:37,280 pictorial beginnings as it flouted and spurned native music? Here 42 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,719 was food for contemplation, dreaming in the brown fog, looking 43 00:02:41,759 --> 00:02:45,439 through it without seeing its beauties at Hogarth's painting of 44 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,120 Lavinia Fenton as Polly Peachum, without wondering how so indifferent 45 00:02:50,159 --> 00:02:52,439 a beauty could have captivated the Duke of Bolton and 46 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,719 held him for thirty years. I was recalled to myself 47 00:02:55,719 --> 00:02:58,319 and my surroundings by the strange conduct of a lady 48 00:02:58,319 --> 00:03:00,479 who had seated herself on the shared next to me, 49 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:05,400 also discouraged by the fog and awaiting its dispersion. I 50 00:03:05,439 --> 00:03:08,680 had not noticed her, particularly at the present moment. I 51 00:03:08,719 --> 00:03:12,360 do not remember particularly what she was like, So far 52 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,199 as I can recollect, she was middle aged and quietly 53 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,439 yet well dressed. It was not her face nor her 54 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,360 dress that attracted my attention and disturbed the current of 55 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,520 my thoughts. The effect I speak of was produced by 56 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,840 her strange movements and behavior. She was sitting listless, probably 57 00:03:28,879 --> 00:03:32,240 thinking of nothing at all, or nothing in particular, when 58 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,439 in turning her eyes round, and, finding that she could 59 00:03:34,479 --> 00:03:37,199 see nothing of the paintings, she began to study me. 60 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,199 This did concern me greatly. A cat may look at 61 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,319 the king, but to be contemplated by a lady is 62 00:03:44,319 --> 00:03:47,919 a compliment sufficient to please any gentleman. It was not 63 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,080 gratified vanity that troubled my thoughts, but the consciousness that 64 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:56,159 my appearance produced, first of all startled surprise, then undisguised alarm, 65 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,520 and finally indescribable horror. A man can sit quietly, leaning 66 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,560 on the head of his umbrella and glow internally warmed 67 00:04:04,599 --> 00:04:07,719 and illumined by the consciousness that he is being surveyed 68 00:04:07,879 --> 00:04:10,719 with admiration by a lovely woman, even when he is 69 00:04:10,759 --> 00:04:14,000 middle aged and not fashionably dressed. But no man can 70 00:04:14,039 --> 00:04:16,920 maintain his composure when he discovers himself to be an 71 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,920 object of aversion and terror. What was it? I passed 72 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,279 my hand over my chin and upper lip, thinking it 73 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,000 not impossible that I might have forgotten to shave that morning, 74 00:04:26,519 --> 00:04:29,279 and in my confusion, not considering that the fog would 75 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,720 prevent the lady from discovering neglect in this particular had 76 00:04:32,759 --> 00:04:35,800 it occurred, which had not. I am a little careless, 77 00:04:35,879 --> 00:04:39,720 perhaps about shaving when in the country, but wood in town. Never. 78 00:04:41,199 --> 00:04:43,800 The next idea that occurred to me was a smut. 79 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,839 Had a London black curdled in that dense pea soup 80 00:04:46,879 --> 00:04:50,399 atmosphere descended on my nose and blackened it. I hastily 81 00:04:50,519 --> 00:04:53,560 drew my silk handkerchief from my pocket, moistened it, and 82 00:04:53,639 --> 00:04:56,680 passed it over my nose and then each cheek. I 83 00:04:56,759 --> 00:04:59,319 then turned my eyes into the corners and looked at 84 00:04:59,319 --> 00:05:01,639 the lady to see whether by this means I had 85 00:05:01,639 --> 00:05:04,279 got rid of what was objectionable in my personal appearance. 86 00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:08,160 Then I saw that her eyes, dilated with horror, were 87 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,879 riveted not on my face, but on my leg, my leg. 88 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,600 What on earth could that harmless member have in it 89 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,040 so terrifying? The morning had been dull, there had been 90 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,399 rain in the night, and I admit that, on leaving 91 00:05:20,399 --> 00:05:23,120 my hotel, I had turned up the bottoms of my trousers. 92 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,040 That is a proceeding not so uncommon, not so outrageous 93 00:05:27,079 --> 00:05:29,360 as to account for the stony stare of the woman's eyes. 94 00:05:30,319 --> 00:05:32,600 If that were all, I would turn my trousers down. 95 00:05:33,519 --> 00:05:35,639 Then I saw her shrink from the chair on which 96 00:05:35,639 --> 00:05:38,360 She sat to one further removed from me, but still 97 00:05:38,399 --> 00:05:41,319 with her eyes fixed on my leg about the level 98 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,000 of my knee. She had let fall her umbrella and 99 00:05:44,079 --> 00:05:46,399 was grasping the seat of her chair with both hands 100 00:05:46,519 --> 00:05:49,879 as she backed for me. I need hardly say that 101 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,759 I was greatly disturbed in mind and feelings, and forgot 102 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,240 all about the origin of the English schools and painters 103 00:05:55,519 --> 00:05:58,040 in the question why the British Museum is more popular 104 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,720 than the National Gallery. Thinking that I might have been 105 00:06:00,759 --> 00:06:04,680 spattered by a handsome whilst crossing Oxford Street, I passed 106 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,439 my hand down my side hastily with a sense of annoyance, 107 00:06:07,879 --> 00:06:11,160 and all at once touched something cold, clammy that sent 108 00:06:11,199 --> 00:06:13,639 a thrill to my heart and made me start and 109 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,759 take a step forward. At the same moment, the lady, 110 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,319 with a cry of horror, sprang to her feet and 111 00:06:19,399 --> 00:06:22,279 with raised hands, fled from the room, leaving her umbrella 112 00:06:22,319 --> 00:06:25,199 where I had fallen. There were other visitors to the 113 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,839 picture gallery besides ourselves, who had been passing through the saloon, 114 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,600 and they turned at her cry and looked in surprise. 115 00:06:31,639 --> 00:06:35,399 After her. The policeman stationed in the room came to 116 00:06:35,439 --> 00:06:37,879 me and asked what had happened. I was in such 117 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,839 agitation that I hardly knew what to answer. I told 118 00:06:40,879 --> 00:06:43,519 him that I could explain what had occurred little better 119 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,399 than himself. I had noticed that the lady had worn 120 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,959 an odd expression and had behaved in most extraordinary fashion, 121 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,800 and that he had best take charge of her umbrella 122 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,600 and wait for her return to claim it. This questioning 123 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,319 by the official was vexing, as it prevented me from, 124 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:01,439 at once and on the spot, investigating the cause of 125 00:07:01,439 --> 00:07:04,199 her alarm and mind hers at something she must have 126 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,160 seen on my leg, and mine at something I had 127 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,279 distinctly felt creeping up my leg. The numbing and sickening 128 00:07:10,279 --> 00:07:12,560 effect on me of the touch of the object I 129 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,079 had not seen was not to be shaken off at once. Indeed, 130 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,120 I felt as though my hand were contaminated, and that 131 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,399 I could have no rest till I had thoroughly washed 132 00:07:21,399 --> 00:07:24,600 the hand and, if possible, washed away the feeling that 133 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,800 had been produced. I looked on the floor, I examined 134 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,360 my leg, but saw nothing. As I wore my overcoat, 135 00:07:31,439 --> 00:07:33,680 it was probable that in rising from my seat, the 136 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,240 skirt had fallen over my trousers and hidden the thing. 137 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,519 Whatever it was. I therefore hastily removed my overcoat and 138 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,519 shook it, then looked at my trousers. There was nothing 139 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,079 whatever on my leg, and nothing fell from my overcoat 140 00:07:46,079 --> 00:07:51,959 when shaken accordingly. I reinvested myself and hastily left the gallery. 141 00:07:52,199 --> 00:07:54,920 Then took my way as speedily as I could without 142 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,160 actually running, to the Charing Cross station and down the 143 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,720 narrow way leading to the Metropo, where I went into 144 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,839 Faulkner's bath and hair dressing establishment and asked for hot 145 00:08:04,879 --> 00:08:07,560 water to thoroughly wash my hand and well soap it. 146 00:08:08,279 --> 00:08:10,360 I bathed my hand in water as hot as I 147 00:08:10,399 --> 00:08:14,240 could endure it, employed carbolic soap, and then, after having 148 00:08:14,439 --> 00:08:16,720 a good brush down, especially on my left side, where 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,439 my hand had encountered the object that had so affected me, 150 00:08:19,639 --> 00:08:22,720 I left. I had entertained the intention of going to 151 00:08:22,759 --> 00:08:25,800 the Princess's Theater that evening, and of securing a ticket 152 00:08:25,839 --> 00:08:28,199 in the morning, But all thought of theater going was 153 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,680 gone for me. I could not free my heart from 154 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,879 the sense of nausea and cold that had been produced 155 00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:35,879 by the touch. I went into Gattis to have lunch 156 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:38,799 and ordered something I forget what, but when served I 157 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,799 found that my appetite was gone. I could eat nothing. 158 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,559 The food inspired me with disgust. I thrust it from me, untasted, 159 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,480 and after drinking a couple of glasses of claret, left 160 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,519 the restaurant and returned to my hotel. Feeling sick and faint, 161 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,480 I threw my overcoat over the sofa back and cast 162 00:08:55,519 --> 00:08:58,519 myself on my bed. I do not know that there 163 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,480 was any particular reason for my doing so. But as 164 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,039 I lay my eyes around my great coat, the density 165 00:09:05,039 --> 00:09:08,000 of the fog has passed away, and there was light again, 166 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,799 not a first quality, but sufficient for a Londoner to 167 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,240 swear by, so that I could see everything in my 168 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,000 room through a veil darkly. I do not think my 169 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,559 mind is occupied in any way about. The only occasions 170 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,080 on which, to my knowledge my mind is actually passive 171 00:09:23,159 --> 00:09:25,879 or inert is when crossing the channel in the foam 172 00:09:26,039 --> 00:09:29,399 from Dover to Calais, when I am always in every 173 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,720 weather objectly seasick and thoughtless. But as I now lay 174 00:09:33,759 --> 00:09:37,519 on my bed, uncomfortable, squeamish, without knowing why, I was 175 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:40,480 in the same inact of mental condition, but not for long, 176 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,039 I saw something that startled me. First it appeared to 177 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,480 me as if the lappet of my overcoat pocket were 178 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,600 in movement being raised. I did not pay much attention 179 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,240 to this, as I suppose that the garment was sliding 180 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,559 down onto the seat of the sofa from the back, 181 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,919 and that this displacement of gravity caused movement. I observed 182 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,519 this I soon saw was not the case. That which 183 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,440 moved the la pet was something in the pocket that 184 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,120 was struggling to get out. I could see now that 185 00:10:07,159 --> 00:10:09,399 it was working its way up the inside, and that 186 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,840 when it reached the opening, it lost balance and fell 187 00:10:11,879 --> 00:10:15,039 down again. I can make this out by the projections 188 00:10:15,039 --> 00:10:17,919 and indentations in the cloth. These moved as the creature 189 00:10:18,159 --> 00:10:20,559 or whatever it was, worked its way up to the lining. 190 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,720 A mouse, I said, and forgot my seediness. I was 191 00:10:24,759 --> 00:10:28,679 interested the little rascal, however, did it? He concrived to 192 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,480 seat himself in my pocket, and I have worn that 193 00:10:31,519 --> 00:10:34,879 overcoat all morning. But no, it was not a mouse. 194 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:37,519 I saw something white poke its way out from under 195 00:10:37,519 --> 00:10:40,200 the la pet, and in another moment an object was 196 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:44,000 revealed that, though revealed, I could not understand, nor could 197 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:48,639 I distinguish what it was. Now Roused by curiosity, I 198 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,320 raised myself on my elbow. In doing this, I made 199 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,559 some noise. The bed creaked instantly. The something dropped to 200 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,120 the floor, lay outstretched for a moment to recover itself, 201 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,279 then began with the motions of a maggot to run 202 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,120 along the floor. There is a caterpillar called the measurer 203 00:11:06,279 --> 00:11:09,080 because when it advances, it draws its tail up to 204 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,120 where its head is, and then throws forward its full length, 205 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,679 and again draws up its extremity, forming at each time 206 00:11:15,759 --> 00:11:19,200 a loop, and with each step measuring its total length. 207 00:11:19,799 --> 00:11:22,080 The object I now saw on the floor was advancing 208 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,600 precisely like the measuring caterpillar. It had the color of 209 00:11:25,639 --> 00:11:28,320 a cheese maggot, and in length was about three and 210 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,919 a half inches. It was not, however, like a caterpillar, 211 00:11:32,279 --> 00:11:35,320 which is flexible throughout its entire length. But this was, 212 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,559 as it seemed to me, jointed in two places, one 213 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,360 joint being more conspicuous than the other. For some moments, 214 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,480 I was so completely paralyzed by the astonishment that I 215 00:11:45,519 --> 00:11:48,759 remained motionless, looking at the thing as it crawled along 216 00:11:48,799 --> 00:11:52,159 the carpet, a dull green carpet with darker green, almost 217 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,399 black flowers in it. It had as it seemed to 218 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,399 me a glossy head distinctly marked, but as the light 219 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,879 was not really I could not make out very clearly, 220 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:07,240 and moreover, the rapid movements prevented close scrutiny. Presently, with 221 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,639 a shock still more startling than it produced by its apparition, 222 00:12:10,759 --> 00:12:13,120 at the opening of the pocket of my greatcoat. But 223 00:12:13,279 --> 00:12:16,000 became convinced that what I saw was a finger, a 224 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,399 human forefinger, and that the glossy head was no other 225 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,519 than the nail. The finger did not seem to have 226 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,080 been amputated. There was no sign of blood or laceration 227 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,840 where the knuckle should be, but the extremity of the 228 00:12:28,919 --> 00:12:32,759 finger or root rather faded away to indistinctness, and I 229 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:34,960 was unable to make out the root of the finger. 230 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,799 I could see no hand, no body behind this finger, 231 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,159 nothing whatever, except a finger that had little token of 232 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,679 warm life in it, no coloration as through blood circulated 233 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,559 in it. And this finger was an active motion, creeping 234 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,159 along the carpet towards a wardrobe that stood against the 235 00:12:51,159 --> 00:12:54,440 wall by the fireplace. I sprang off the bed and 236 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,440 pursued it. Evidently the finger was alarmed, for it redoubled 237 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,559 its pace reached the wardrobe and went under it. By 238 00:13:01,639 --> 00:13:04,039 the time I had arrived at the article of furniture, 239 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,200 it had disappeared. I lit a vesta match and held 240 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,440 it beneath the wardrobe that was raised above the carpet 241 00:13:09,519 --> 00:13:12,519 by about two inches on turned feet, but I could 242 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,519 see nothing more of the finger. I got my umbrella 243 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,559 and thrust it beneath and raked forwards and backwards, right 244 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,960 and left, and raked out flew and nothing more solid. 245 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,279 I packed my poormanteau next day and returned to my 246 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,600 home in the country. All desire for amusement in town 247 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,879 was gone, and the faculty to transact business had departed 248 00:13:32,879 --> 00:13:36,559 as well. A linger in qualms had come over me, 249 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,480 and my head was in a maze. I was unable 250 00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:42,600 to fix my thoughts on anything. At times I was 251 00:13:42,639 --> 00:13:45,960 disposed to believe that my wits were deserting me, at 252 00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:49,639 others that I was on the verge of a severe illness. Anyhow, 253 00:13:49,759 --> 00:13:52,120 whether likely to go off my head or not, or 254 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:54,720 to take my bed home was the only place for me, 255 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,679 and homeward I sped accordingly. On reaching my country habitation, 256 00:13:59,879 --> 00:14:03,519 my servant, as usual, took my pormanteau to my bedroom 257 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,799 unstrapped it, but did not unpack it. I object to 258 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,799 his throwing out the contents of my gladstone bag, not 259 00:14:09,919 --> 00:14:12,639 that there is anything that he may not see. That 260 00:14:12,759 --> 00:14:14,840 he puts my things where I cannot find him again. 261 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,519 My clothes, he is welcome to place them where he 262 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:20,480 likes and where they belong. In this latter he knows 263 00:14:20,519 --> 00:14:23,360 better than I do. But then I carry about with 264 00:14:23,399 --> 00:14:25,919 me other things in a dress, suit and changes of 265 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,480 linen and flannel. There are letters, papers, books, and the 266 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:33,000 proper destinations of these are known only to myself. A 267 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,879 servant has a singular and evil knack of putting away 268 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,919 literary matter and odd volumes in such places that it 269 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,360 takes the owner half a day to find them again. 270 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,759 Although I was uncomfortable and my head in a whirl, 271 00:14:45,039 --> 00:14:48,759 I opened and unpacked my own pormanteau. As I was 272 00:14:48,799 --> 00:14:51,799 thus engaged, I saw something curled up in my collar box, 273 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,279 the lid of which had gotten broken by a boot 274 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,399 heel and pinging on it. I had pulled off the 275 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,000 damage cover to see if my callers had been spoiled, 276 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,320 when something curled up inside suddenly rose on end and 277 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,440 left dressed like a cheese jumper out of the box, 278 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,440 over the edge of the gladstone bag, and scurried away 279 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,039 across the floor in a manner already familiar to me. 280 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,039 I could not doubt for a moment what it was. 281 00:15:15,399 --> 00:15:17,919 Here was the finger again. It had come with me 282 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:21,679 from London to the country. Whither it went in its 283 00:15:21,759 --> 00:15:24,159 run over the floor, I do not know. I was 284 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,440 too bewildered to observe. Somewhat later, towards evening, I seated 285 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,919 myself in my easy chair, took up a book and 286 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,639 tried to read. I was tired with the journey, with 287 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,639 a knocking about in town, and the discomfort and alarm 288 00:15:36,679 --> 00:15:39,879 produced by the apparition of the finger. I felt worn out. 289 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,679 I was unable to give my attention to what I read, 290 00:15:43,039 --> 00:15:45,799 and before I was aware was asleep. Roused for an 291 00:15:45,799 --> 00:15:47,759 instant by the fall of a book from my hands, 292 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:51,840 I speedily relapsed into unconsciousness. I am not sure that 293 00:15:51,919 --> 00:15:54,679 a doze in the armchair ever does good. It usually 294 00:15:54,759 --> 00:15:57,480 leaves me in a semi stupid condition and with a headache. 295 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,759 Five minutes in a horizontal position on my bed as 296 00:16:00,759 --> 00:16:04,840 worth thirty in a chair. That is my experience in 297 00:16:04,879 --> 00:16:07,960 sleeping in a sedentary position that the head is a difficulty. 298 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,360 It drops forward or lalls on one side of the 299 00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:12,679 other and has to be brought back into a position 300 00:16:12,759 --> 00:16:15,080 in which the line to the center of gravity runs 301 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,919 through the trunk. Otherwise the head carries the body over 302 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,120 in a sort of general capsize out of the chair 303 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,360 onto the floor. I slept on the occasion of which 304 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:27,039 I'm speaking pretty healthily, because deadly weary. But I was 305 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,639 brought to waking not by my head falling over the 306 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,840 arm of the chair and my trunk tumbling after it, 307 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,399 but by a feeling of cold extending from my throat 308 00:16:34,399 --> 00:16:36,480 to my heart. When I awoke, I was in a 309 00:16:36,519 --> 00:16:39,120 diagonal position, with my right ear resting on my right 310 00:16:39,159 --> 00:16:42,080 shoulder and exposing the left side of my throat. And 311 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,120 it was here where the jugular vein throbs, that I 312 00:16:45,159 --> 00:16:48,200 felt the greatest intensity of cold. At once I shrugged 313 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,720 my left shoulder, rubbing my neck with the collar of 314 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,279 my coat, and so doing immediately something fell off upon 315 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,360 the floor, and again I saw the finger. My disgust 316 00:16:57,639 --> 00:17:00,480 horror were intensified when I perceived that it was dragging 317 00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,320 something after it, which might have been an old stalking 318 00:17:03,399 --> 00:17:05,480 in which I took a first glance for something of 319 00:17:05,519 --> 00:17:08,720 the sort. The evening sun shone in through my window 320 00:17:08,839 --> 00:17:11,279 in a brilliant gold ray that lighted the object as 321 00:17:11,279 --> 00:17:14,559 it scrambled. Along with this illumination, I was able to 322 00:17:14,559 --> 00:17:17,359 distinguish what the object was. It was not easy to 323 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,079 describe it, but I will make the attempt. The finger 324 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,640 I saw was solid and material. What it drew after 325 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,000 it was neither, or was in a nebulous protoplasmic condition. 326 00:17:26,759 --> 00:17:29,200 The finger was attached to a hand that was curdling 327 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,839 into matter and in process of acquiring solidity. Attached to 328 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,440 the hand was an arm in a very filmy condition, 329 00:17:36,079 --> 00:17:38,359 and this arm belonged to a human body in a 330 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,640 still more vaporous immaterial condition. This was being dragged along 331 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,359 the floor by the finger, just as a silkworm might 332 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,119 pull after it the tangle of its web. I could 333 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,079 see legs and arms, and head and coat tail tumbling 334 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,799 about and interlacing and disentangling again in a promiscuous manner. 335 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,400 There were no bone, no muscle, no substance in the figure. 336 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:01,680 The members were attached to the trunk, which was spineless, 337 00:18:01,759 --> 00:18:04,720 but they had evidently no functions and were wholly dependent 338 00:18:04,759 --> 00:18:06,759 on the finger, which pulled them along in a jumble 339 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:09,920 of parts as it advanced in such confusion. Did the 340 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,720 whole vaporous matter seem that? I think? I cannot say 341 00:18:12,759 --> 00:18:15,279 for certain it was so, But the impression left on 342 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,079 my mind was that one of the eyeballs was looking 343 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:20,559 out at a nostril, and the tongue lolling out of 344 00:18:20,599 --> 00:18:23,559 one of the ears. Was, however, only for a moment 345 00:18:23,599 --> 00:18:26,079 that I saw this germ body. I can not call 346 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,240 by another name, that which had not more substance than smoke. 347 00:18:29,799 --> 00:18:31,920 I saw it only so long as it was being 348 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,319 dragged athwart the ray of sunlight. The moment it was 349 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,079 pulled jerkily out of the beam into the shadow beyond, 350 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,799 I could see nothing of it, only the crawling finger. 351 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,759 I had not sufficient moral energy or physical force in 352 00:18:44,799 --> 00:18:47,160 me to rise, pursue and stamp on the finger, and 353 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,160 grind it with my heel into the floor. Both seemed 354 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,960 drained out of me, but became of the finger. Whither 355 00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:55,960 it went. How it managed to discreet itself, I do 356 00:18:56,039 --> 00:18:59,240 not know. I had lost the power to inquire. I 357 00:18:59,279 --> 00:19:04,279 sat in my chair, chilled, staring before me into space. Please, sir, 358 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:08,759 a voice said, that's mister Square below electrical engineer. A 359 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,559 I looked dreamily around my valet was at the door. Please, sir, 360 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,640 the gentleman would be glad to be allowed to go 361 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,359 over the house and see all the electrical apparatus is 362 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,759 in order. Oh, indeed, yes, show him up. I had 363 00:19:22,799 --> 00:19:25,440 recently placed the lighting of my house in the hands 364 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,839 of an electrical engineer, a very intelligent man, mister Square, 365 00:19:29,319 --> 00:19:32,599 for whom I had contracted a sincere friendship. He had 366 00:19:32,599 --> 00:19:34,640 built a shed with a dynamo out of sight and 367 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,839 had entrusted the laying of the wires to subordinates, as 368 00:19:37,839 --> 00:19:40,240 he had been busy with other orders and cannot personally 369 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,960 watch every detail. But he was not the man to 370 00:19:43,039 --> 00:19:45,960 let anything pass unobserved, and he knew that electricity was 371 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,799 not a force to be played with. That or careless 372 00:19:48,839 --> 00:19:52,119 workmen will often insufficiently protect the wires or neglect the 373 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:55,039 insertion of the lead, which serves as a safety valve. 374 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,400 In the event of the current being too strong, houses 375 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,400 may be set on fire, and beings fatally shocked by 376 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,200 the neglect of a bad or slovenly workman. The apparatus 377 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:08,079 for my mansion was just completed, but mister Square had 378 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,200 come to inspect it and make sure that it was 379 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:14,160 all right. He was an enthusiast in the matter of electricity, 380 00:20:14,279 --> 00:20:17,119 and saw for it a vast perspective, the limits of 381 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:22,079 which could not be predicted. All forces, said he, are correlated. 382 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,759 When you have force in one form, you may just 383 00:20:24,799 --> 00:20:27,599 turn it into this or that as you like. In 384 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,400 one form it is motive power, in another, it is 385 00:20:30,519 --> 00:20:34,440 light in another heat. Now we have electricity for illumination, 386 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,119 we employ it, but not as freely as in the States. 387 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,839 For propelling vehicles, Why should we have horses drawing our buses? 388 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,960 We should use only electric trams. Why do we burn 389 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:48,359 coal to warm our shins? There is electricity which throws 390 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,519 out no filthy smoke as does coal. Why should we 391 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,519 let the tides waste their energies in the Thames? In 392 00:20:54,559 --> 00:20:59,160 other estuaries there we have nature supplying us free gratis, 393 00:20:59,319 --> 00:21:02,480 and for nothing, with all the force we want for propelling, 394 00:21:02,519 --> 00:21:05,359 for heating, for lighting. I will tell you something more, 395 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:08,559 my dear sir, said mister Square. I have mentioned but 396 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,680 three modes of force, and have incense but a limited 397 00:21:11,759 --> 00:21:15,079 number of uses to which electricity may be turned. How 398 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,240 is it with photography? Is not electric light becoming an 399 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,319 artistic agent? I bet you, said he, Before long it 400 00:21:22,319 --> 00:21:26,279 will become a therapeutic agent as well. Oh yes, I 401 00:21:26,319 --> 00:21:29,960 have heard of certain impostures with their life belts. Mister 402 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,960 Square did not relish with this little deck I gave him. 403 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,599 He winced, but returned to the charge. We don't know 404 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,720 how to direct it, all right, that is all, said he. 405 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,240 I haven't taken the matter up, but others will, I bet, 406 00:21:42,599 --> 00:21:45,240 and we shall have electricity used as freely as now 407 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,279 we use powders and pills. I don't believe in doctor's 408 00:21:48,319 --> 00:21:51,359 stuff myself. I hold that disease lays hold of a 409 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,000 man because he lacks physical force to resist it. Now, 410 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,240 is it not obvious that you are beginning at the 411 00:21:57,279 --> 00:22:00,240 wrong end when you attack the disease. What you want 412 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:02,400 is to supply force make up for the lack of 413 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,359 physical power. And force is force wherever you find it. 414 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,400 Here motive, they're illuminating, and so on. I don't see 415 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,240 why physicians should not utilize the tide rushing out under 416 00:22:12,319 --> 00:22:15,119 London Bridge for restoring the feeble vigor of all who 417 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,799 are languid and a prey to disorder in the metropolis. 418 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,799 It will come to that, I bet. And that is 419 00:22:20,839 --> 00:22:25,240 not all. Force is force everywhere, political, moral force, physical force, 420 00:22:25,319 --> 00:22:29,279 dynamic force, heat, light, tidal ways and so on. All 421 00:22:29,279 --> 00:22:32,119 are one, All is one. In time we shall know 422 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:36,279 how to galvanize into aptitude and moral energy all the 423 00:22:36,319 --> 00:22:39,799 limp and crooked consciences and wills that need taking in hand, 424 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,680 and such there always will be in modern civilization. I 425 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,440 don't know how to do it. I don't know how 426 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,359 it will be done. But in the future the priest 427 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,160 as well as the doctor, will turn electricity hon as 428 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:53,319 his principle, nay, his only agent, and he can get 429 00:22:53,319 --> 00:22:55,920 his force anywhere, out of the running stream, out of 430 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,200 the wind, out of the tidal wave. I'll give you 431 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,599 an instance, continued mister Square, chuckling and rubbing his hands, 432 00:23:03,039 --> 00:23:06,519 to show you the great possibilities and electricity used in 433 00:23:06,519 --> 00:23:10,319 the crude fashion. In a certain great city far west 434 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,799 in the States, a go had placed too, more so 435 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,720 than New York. They had electric trans all up and 436 00:23:16,759 --> 00:23:19,759 down and along the roads to everywhere. The union men 437 00:23:19,799 --> 00:23:22,599 working for the company demanded that the non unionists should 438 00:23:22,599 --> 00:23:26,240 be turned off, but the company didn't see it. Instead, 439 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,839 it turned off the union men. It had up its 440 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,680 sleeve a sufficiency of the others, and filled all places 441 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:34,920 at once. Union men didn't like it, and passed word 442 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,079 that at a given hour on a certain day, every 443 00:23:37,079 --> 00:23:40,359 wire was to be cut. The company knew this by 444 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,000 means of its spies, and turned on ready for them, 445 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,480 three times of power into all the wires at the 446 00:23:46,519 --> 00:23:49,119 fixed moment. Up the poles with the strikers to cut 447 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,359 the cables, and down they came a dozen times quicker 448 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,720 than they went up. Then there came wires to the 449 00:23:55,759 --> 00:23:58,480 hospitals from all quarters for stretchers to carry off the 450 00:23:58,519 --> 00:24:02,920 disabled men. Some broken legs, arms, ribs, two or three 451 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,720 had their necks broken. I reckon. The company was wonderfully merciful. 452 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:09,880 It didn't put on sufficient force to make cinders of them. 453 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,279 Then in there possibly opinion might not have liked it. 454 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,319 Stopped the strike did that great moral effect. All dead 455 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,240 by electricity. In this manner, mister Square was wont to 456 00:24:21,319 --> 00:24:24,720 rattle on. He interested me, and I came to think 457 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,880 that there might be something in what he said, that 458 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,039 his suggestions were not mere nonsense. I was glad to 459 00:24:30,039 --> 00:24:32,880 see mister Square enter my room, shown in by my man. 460 00:24:33,519 --> 00:24:35,599 I did not rise from my chair to shake his hand, 461 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,880 for I had not sufficient energy to do so. In 462 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,559 a languid tone, I welcomed him and signed to him 463 00:24:41,559 --> 00:24:44,119 to take a seat. Mister Square looked at me with 464 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:48,599 some surprise. Why what's the matter, he said, you seem unwell. 465 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,920 Knock out the flu have you? I beg your pardon 466 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,480 the influenza. Every third person is crying out that he 467 00:24:55,559 --> 00:24:58,839 has it, And the sale of eucalyptus is enormous, not 468 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:03,519 that eucalyptus is anyth good influenza microbes. Indeed, what cared 469 00:25:03,559 --> 00:25:06,400 they for eucalyptus? We've gone down some steps of the 470 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,559 latter of life since I last saw you, Squire, how 471 00:25:09,599 --> 00:25:12,880 do you account for that? I hesitated about the mentioning 472 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,599 the extraordinary circumstances that had occurred. But Square was a 473 00:25:16,599 --> 00:25:19,920 man who would not allow any beating about the bush. 474 00:25:20,039 --> 00:25:22,720 He was downright and straight, and in ten minutes he 475 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:26,359 got the entire story out of me. Rather boisterous for 476 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,880 your nerves. That a crawling finger, he said he it's 477 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:33,359 a queer story taken on end. Then he was silent, 478 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:37,759 considering after a few minutes, he rose and said, I'll 479 00:25:37,759 --> 00:25:39,720 go and look at the fittings, and then I'll turn 480 00:25:39,759 --> 00:25:41,759 this little matter of yours over again and see if 481 00:25:41,759 --> 00:25:44,359 I can't knock the bottom out of it. I'm kinder 482 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,519 fond of those sort of things. Mister Square was not 483 00:25:47,559 --> 00:25:49,880 a Yankee, but he had lived for some time in 484 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,519 America and affected to speak like an American. He used 485 00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:56,839 expressions terms of speech common in the States, but had 486 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,400 none of the Transatlantic twang. He was a man absent, sally, 487 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,079 without affection in every other particular. This was his sole weakness, 488 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,799 and it was harmless. The man was so thorough in 489 00:26:06,839 --> 00:26:08,920 all he did that I did not expect him to 490 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,599 return immediately. He was certain to examine every portion of 491 00:26:12,599 --> 00:26:15,960 the dynamo engine and all the connections and burners. This 492 00:26:16,039 --> 00:26:19,160 would necessarily engage him for some hours. As the day 493 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:21,359 was nearly done, I knew he could not accomplish what 494 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:23,799 he wanted that evening, and accordingly gave orders that a 495 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,720 room should be prepared for him. Then, as my head 496 00:26:26,799 --> 00:26:29,480 was full of pain and my skin was burning, I 497 00:26:29,519 --> 00:26:32,240 told my servant to apologize for my absence from dinner 498 00:26:32,279 --> 00:26:34,400 and tell mister Square that I was really forced to 499 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,039 return to my bed by sickness, and that I believed 500 00:26:37,079 --> 00:26:40,039 I was about to be prostrated by an attack of influenza. 501 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,680 The valet, a worthy fellow who had been with me 502 00:26:43,799 --> 00:26:46,160 for six years, was concerned at my appearance and urged 503 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,759 me to allow him to send for a doctor. I 504 00:26:48,839 --> 00:26:51,799 had no confidence in the local practitioner, and if I 505 00:26:51,839 --> 00:26:55,039 sent for another from the nearest town, I should offend him, 506 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,759 and a row would perhaps ensue. So I declined, if 507 00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:01,079 I were really in for an Leuwenza attack, I knew 508 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,000 about as much as my any doctor how to deal 509 00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:06,839 with it. Quinny and quiney, that was all. I bade 510 00:27:06,839 --> 00:27:09,880 my man light a small lamp, lower it so as 511 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,440 to give sufficient illumination to enable me to find some 512 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:15,279 lime juice at my bed head and my pocket handkerchief, 513 00:27:15,599 --> 00:27:17,920 and to be able to read my watch. When he 514 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,200 had done this, I bade him leave me. I lay 515 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,759 in bed, burning, racked with pain in my head and 516 00:27:22,799 --> 00:27:26,160 my eyeballs on fire. Whether I fell asleep or went 517 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,440 off my head for a while I cannot tell. I 518 00:27:28,519 --> 00:27:31,240 may have fainted. I have no recollection of anything. After 519 00:27:31,319 --> 00:27:33,400 gone to bed and taking a sip of lime juice 520 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,240 that tasted to me like soap, till I was roused 521 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:38,640 by a sense of pain in my ribs, a slow, gnawing, 522 00:27:38,759 --> 00:27:44,319 torturing pain, waxing momentarily more intense. In half consciousness, I 523 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,319 was partly dreaming and partly aware of actual suffering. The 524 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,960 pain was real, but in my fancy I thought that 525 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,240 a great maggot was working its way into my side 526 00:27:53,279 --> 00:27:56,759 between my roobs. I seemed to see it. It twisted 527 00:27:56,799 --> 00:27:59,960 itself half round, then reverted to its former position again, 528 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:04,400 a twisting itself, moving like a brattle, not like a gimlet, 529 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:09,119 which latter forms a complete revolution. This obviously must have 530 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,359 been a dream hallucination only as I was lying on 531 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,920 my back and my eyes were directed towards the bottom 532 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,119 of my bed, the coverlet and blankets, and she intervened 533 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,839 between my eyes and the side. But in fever one 534 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,640 seized without eyes, and in every direction, and through all obstructions, 535 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:29,079 roused thoroughly by an excruciating twinge, I tried to cry out, 536 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,240 and succeeded in throwing myself over on my right side, 537 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,119 that which was in pain. At once I felt the 538 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:38,000 thing withdrawn that was all in If I may use 539 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:41,279 the word in between my ribs. And now I saw 540 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:44,200 standing beside the bed a figure that had its arm 541 00:28:44,319 --> 00:28:47,240 under the bed clothes and was slowly removing it. The 542 00:28:47,319 --> 00:28:50,079 hand was leisurely drawn from under the coverings and rested 543 00:28:50,119 --> 00:28:54,519 on the eider down coverlet, with the forefinger extended. The 544 00:28:54,559 --> 00:28:57,000 figure was that of a man in shabby clothes, with 545 00:28:57,079 --> 00:29:00,960 a sallow, mean face, a retreating forehead, and hair cut 546 00:29:01,079 --> 00:29:05,599 after the French fashion, and a mustache. The draws and 547 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,799 chin were covered with a bristly growth, as if shaving 548 00:29:08,839 --> 00:29:11,839 had been neglected for a fortnight. The figure did not 549 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,359 appear to be thoroughly solid, but to be of the 550 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,359 consistency of curd, and the face was of the complexion 551 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:20,519 of curd. As I looked at this object, it withdrew, 552 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,599 sliding backward an odd sort of manner, and as though 553 00:29:23,599 --> 00:29:26,799 overweighted by the hand, which was the most substantial, indeed 554 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:31,079 the only substantial portion of it. Though the finger retreated stooping, 555 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:33,880 yet it was no longer huddled along by the finger, 556 00:29:34,599 --> 00:29:37,839 as if it had no material existence. If the same, 557 00:29:38,119 --> 00:29:41,160 it had acquired a consistency in a solidity which it 558 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,319 did not possess before. How it vanished. I do not 559 00:29:44,519 --> 00:29:48,079 know nor whether it went. The door opened and Square 560 00:29:48,119 --> 00:29:52,240 came in. What he explained with cheery voice, influenza is it? 561 00:29:53,119 --> 00:29:56,680 I don't know. I think it's that finger again. Now 562 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,880 look here, said Square, I'm not going to have that 563 00:30:00,039 --> 00:30:03,160 cuss at its pranks anymore. Tell me about it. I 564 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:06,119 was now so exhausted, so feeble, that I was not 565 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,599 able to give a connected account of what had taken place. 566 00:30:09,119 --> 00:30:11,720 But Square to put me just a few pointed questions 567 00:30:11,759 --> 00:30:15,000 and elicited the main facts. He pieced him together in 568 00:30:15,039 --> 00:30:18,039 his own orderly mind, so as to form a connected whole. 569 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:21,559 There is a feature in the case, said he, that 570 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,279 strikes me as remarkable and important. At first a finger only, 571 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,480 then a hand that a nebulous figure attached to the hand, 572 00:30:28,759 --> 00:30:34,480 without backbone, without consistency. Lastly a complete form with consistency 573 00:30:34,559 --> 00:30:38,119 and with backbone, but the latter in a gelatinous condition, 574 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,799 and the entire figure overweighted by the hand, just as 575 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:46,279 hand and figure were previously overweighted by the finger. Simultaneously, 576 00:30:46,319 --> 00:30:49,799 with this compacting and consolidating of the figure came your 577 00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:52,960 degeneration and lost of vital force. And in a word 578 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,440 of help, what you lose, the object acquires, and what 579 00:30:56,559 --> 00:31:00,240 it acquires it gains by contact with you. That's clear enough, 580 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,680 is it not? I dare say I don't know. I 581 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:07,640 can't think. I suppose not. The faculty of thought is 582 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,680 drained out of you. Very well, I must think for you, 583 00:31:10,839 --> 00:31:14,240 and I will force his force, and see if I 584 00:31:14,279 --> 00:31:16,480 can't deal with your visitant in such a way as 585 00:31:16,519 --> 00:31:19,359 will prove just as truly a moral dissuasive that employed 586 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,759 on the union men on striking. Never mind where it was, 587 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,160 that's not the point. Will you kindly give me some 588 00:31:26,279 --> 00:31:30,559 lime juice? I entreated. I sipped the acid drought, but 589 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:34,440 without relief. I listened to Square, but without hope. I 590 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,359 wanted to be left alone. I was wary of my pain, 591 00:31:37,759 --> 00:31:41,200 weary of everything, even of life. It was a matter 592 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,599 of indifference to me whether I recovered or slipped out 593 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:47,079 of its existence. It will be here again, shortly, said 594 00:31:47,119 --> 00:31:51,880 the engineer, as the French say, l'a pativia monjan. It 595 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,440 has been at you thrice. It won't be content without 596 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,960 another peck, And if it does get another, I guess 597 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:01,279 it will pretty well about finish you. Mister Square rubbed 598 00:32:01,279 --> 00:32:04,039 his chin and then put his hands into his trousers pockets. 599 00:32:04,519 --> 00:32:06,799 That was also a trick acquired in the States, and 600 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,519 an elegant one. His hands, when not actively occupied, went 601 00:32:10,559 --> 00:32:14,880 into his pockets. Inevitably they gravitated thither. Ladies did not 602 00:32:15,119 --> 00:32:17,839 like square. They said he was not a gentleman. But 603 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,160 it was not that he said or did anything off color. 604 00:32:20,759 --> 00:32:23,480 Only he spoke to them, looked at them, and walked 605 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,720 with them, always with his hands in his pockets. I've 606 00:32:26,759 --> 00:32:29,160 seen a lady turn her back on him deliberately because 607 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:32,880 of this trick. Standing now with his hands in his pockets, 608 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:37,279 he studied my bed and said, contemptuously, old fashioned and bad. 609 00:32:37,359 --> 00:32:40,880 Four poster oughtn't be allowed. I guess, unwholesome all the 610 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:44,200 way around. I was not in a condition to dispute this. 611 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,440 I like a four poster with curtains at head and feet, 612 00:32:47,839 --> 00:32:49,680 not that I ever draw them, but it gives a 613 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:51,759 sense of privacy, that is wanting in one of your 614 00:32:51,759 --> 00:32:55,440 half tester beds. If there is a window at one's feet, 615 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:57,920 one can lie in bed without the glaring one's eyes, 616 00:32:58,279 --> 00:33:01,000 and yet without darkening the room by drawing the blinds. 617 00:33:01,799 --> 00:33:04,200 There's much to be said for a four poster, but 618 00:33:04,279 --> 00:33:05,839 this is not the place in which you say it. 619 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,759 Mister Square pulled his hands out of his pockets and 620 00:33:08,799 --> 00:33:10,960 began fiddling with the electric point near the head of 621 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,000 my bed. Attached a wire, swept it in a semicircle 622 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,599 along the floor, then thrust the knob at the end 623 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:19,680 into my hand in the bed. Keep your eye open, 624 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,359 he said, and your hand shut and covered. If that 625 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:26,400 finger comes again tickling your ribs, try it with the point. 626 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,480 I'll manage to switch from behind the curtain. Then he disappeared. 627 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:33,640 I was too indifferent in my misery to turn my 628 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,960 head and observe where he was. I remained inert, with 629 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,640 the knob in my hand and my eyes closed, suffering 630 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,759 and thinking of nothing, with the shooting pains through my 631 00:33:41,799 --> 00:33:44,920 head and the aches in my loins and back and legs. 632 00:33:45,839 --> 00:33:49,000 Sometime probably elapsed before I felt the finger again at 633 00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:52,279 work at my ribs. It groped, but no longer bored. 634 00:33:52,759 --> 00:33:55,400 I now felt the entire hand, not a single finger, 635 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:59,880 and the hand was substantial, cold and clammy. I was aware, 636 00:34:00,119 --> 00:34:02,279 how I know not that if the finger point reached 637 00:34:02,279 --> 00:34:04,440 the region of my heart on the left side, that 638 00:34:04,559 --> 00:34:06,960 the hand would so to speak, sit down on it 639 00:34:07,319 --> 00:34:09,559 with the cold palm over it. And then immediately my 640 00:34:09,599 --> 00:34:11,960 heart ceased to beat, and it would be a Square 641 00:34:12,039 --> 00:34:16,320 might express it gone coon with me. In self preservation, 642 00:34:16,559 --> 00:34:18,920 I brought up the knob of the electric wire against 643 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:22,039 the hand against one of the ringers, I think, and 644 00:34:22,119 --> 00:34:25,280 at once was aware of a rapping, squealing noise. I 645 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,280 turned my head languidly and saw the form, now more 646 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:32,320 substantial than before, capering in an ecstasy of pain, endeavoring 647 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:35,639 fruitlessly to withdraw its arm from under the bedclothes and 648 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,119 the hand from the electric point. At the same moment, 649 00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:41,679 Square stepped from behind the curtain with a dry laugh 650 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:44,280 and said, I thought we should fix him. He has 651 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:47,000 the coil about him and can't escape. Now let us 652 00:34:47,039 --> 00:34:50,039 drop to particulars. But I shan't let you off until 653 00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:53,159 I know all about you. The last sentence was addressed 654 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:57,400 not to me, but to the apparition. Thereupon he bade 655 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,039 me to take the point away from the hand of 656 00:34:59,039 --> 00:35:02,119 the figure, being whatever it was, but to be ready 657 00:35:02,159 --> 00:35:05,000 with it at a moment's notice. He then proceeded to 658 00:35:05,079 --> 00:35:08,199 catchize my visitor, who moved restlessly within the circle of 659 00:35:08,199 --> 00:35:11,119 the wire, but could not escape from it, it replied, 660 00:35:11,199 --> 00:35:13,400 in a thin, squealing voice that sounded as if to 661 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,320 come from a distance, and had a querulous tone in it. 662 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,679 I'd not pretend to give all that was said. I 663 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:23,760 cannot recollect everything that passed. My memory was affected by 664 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:26,679 my illness as well as my body. Yet I prefer 665 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:29,400 giving the scraps that I recollect to what Square told 666 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:33,880 me he had heard. Yes, I was unsuccessful. Always was 667 00:35:34,079 --> 00:35:37,679 nothing answered with me. The world was against me, society was. 668 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,199 I hate society. I don't like work, neither never did. 669 00:35:41,679 --> 00:35:44,639 But I like agitating against what is established. I hate 670 00:35:44,639 --> 00:35:48,599 the royal family, the landed interest, the parsons, everything that 671 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,119 is except the people that is, the unemployed. I always did, 672 00:35:52,639 --> 00:35:54,800 I couldn't get work as suited me. When I died, 673 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:57,679 they buried me in a cheap coffin dirt cheap, and 674 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:01,000 gave me a nasty grave cheap, and a service ratt 675 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:05,079 away cheap, and no monument. Didn't want none. Oh, there 676 00:36:05,079 --> 00:36:09,679 are lots of us, all discontented. Discontent. That's a passion 677 00:36:09,760 --> 00:36:12,400 it is. It gets into the veins, it fills the brain, 678 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:15,960 it occupies the heart. It's a sort of divine cancer 679 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,679 that takes possession of the entire man and makes him 680 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:22,360 dissatisfied with everything and hate everybody. But we must have 681 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:24,920 our share of happiness at some time. We all crave 682 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:27,599 for it in one way or other. Somethink is a 683 00:36:27,599 --> 00:36:30,400 future state of blessedness, and so of hope, and look 684 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,480 to attain it. For hope is a cable and anchor 685 00:36:32,519 --> 00:36:35,079 that attaches to what is real. But when you have 686 00:36:35,159 --> 00:36:37,800 no hope of that sort, don't believe in any future state. 687 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,000 You must look for happiness in life. Here we didn't 688 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:42,760 get it when we were alive, so we seek to 689 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,679 procure it after we are dead. We can't do it 690 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,360 if we can get out of our cheap and nasty coffins, 691 00:36:48,599 --> 00:36:50,880 but not till the greater part of us is molded away. 692 00:36:51,599 --> 00:36:53,800 If a finger or two remains that can work its 693 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:56,199 way up to the surface, those cheap deal coffins go 694 00:36:56,239 --> 00:36:59,199 to pieces quick enough, then the only solid part of 695 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:00,719 us left can pull them. The rest of us that 696 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,480 has gone to nothing after it. Then we grow up 697 00:37:03,519 --> 00:37:06,039 about after the living, the well to do if we 698 00:37:06,079 --> 00:37:08,719 can get at them, the honest, working poor. If we can't, 699 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:11,599 we hate them too, because they are content and happy. 700 00:37:12,440 --> 00:37:14,639 If we reach any of these and can touch them, 701 00:37:15,119 --> 00:37:17,360 then we can draw their vital force out of them 702 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:21,320 into ourselves and recuperate at their expense. That was about 703 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:23,920 what I was going to do with you, getting on famous, 704 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:27,599 nearly solidified into a new man, and given another chance 705 00:37:27,639 --> 00:37:30,760 in life. But I've missed it this time, just my luck. 706 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:35,639 Miss everything always have, except misery and disappointment. Get plenty 707 00:37:35,639 --> 00:37:39,920 of that. What are you all asked swear anarchists out 708 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,880 of employee? Some of us go by that name, some 709 00:37:43,039 --> 00:37:46,320 by other designations, but we are all one and own 710 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:50,599 allegiance to what one monarch sovereign discontent. We are bred 711 00:37:50,599 --> 00:37:52,920 to have a distaste for manual work, and we grow 712 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:56,159 up loafers, grumbling at everything and quarreling with society that 713 00:37:56,239 --> 00:37:58,360 is around us and the providence that is above us. 714 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:03,039 And what do you call yourselves? Now call ourselves nothing? 715 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,039 We are the same in another condition. That is all 716 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:11,320 folk once called this anarchists, nihilists, socialists, levelers. Now they 717 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,599 call us the influenza. The learned talk of microbes and 718 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:19,559 baccali and bacteria, microbes, baccalie and bacteria be blowed. We 719 00:38:19,639 --> 00:38:23,840 are the influenza. We are the social failures, the generally discontented, 720 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,519 coming up out of our cheap and nasty graves in 721 00:38:26,559 --> 00:38:30,960 the form of physical disease. We are the influenza. There 722 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:34,599 you are, I guess, exclaimed Square triumphantly. Did I not 723 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:38,400 say that all forces were correlated? If so, then all 724 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:42,360 negations deficiencies of force are one in their several manifestations. 725 00:38:43,039 --> 00:38:47,360 Talk of divine discontent as a force impelling to progress rubbish. 726 00:38:47,599 --> 00:38:50,400 It is a paralysis of energy. It turns all it 727 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:55,199 absorbs into acid to envy, spite, gall It inspires nothing 728 00:38:55,199 --> 00:38:59,320 but rots the whole moral system. Here you have it moral, social, 729 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:03,480 political desas content in another form, nay, aspect. That is all. 730 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:07,639 What anarchism is the body politic. The influenza is the 731 00:39:07,639 --> 00:39:13,079 body physical. Do you see that? Yes, I believe, I answered, 732 00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:16,880 and dropped away into the land of dreams. I recovered. 733 00:39:17,519 --> 00:39:19,519 What Square did with the thing, I do not know, 734 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:22,519 but believe that he reduced it again to its former 735 00:39:22,559 --> 00:39:28,159 negative and self decomposing condition. End of a dead finger.